Going to Idaho to retreat from the world

"You Christians are so judgmental!" is an accusation frequently heard these days.  "Why can't you just accept people for who they are and let them alone?"   These accusations make me sad and a little glad at the same time.  I do regret the statements that spew from angry, hurting Christians but I stand gladly with Christ and those who, not matter their compassion, refuse to join with those who are in rebellion against God. As our culture drifts further from the Lord and rejects His Word I expect that the rejection and anger against Christians will grow.  The Lord Himself forewarned us that "everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10:22, NLT)

Given all this conflict, I am tempted to move to some remote town in Idaho and live out my days among those who share my understanding of the world as we wait for the Coming of the Lord. (OK, not really!)

In UnChristian, David Kinnaman writes that his research confirms that people outside of the Church, especially those who are young, view the Church's positions on most social issues as condemning.  Some Christians think that their only choice is to stop being truthful.  Kinnaman says, "Some Christians respond to outsider's negativity by promoting a less offensive faith.   The more unpopular parts of Christian teaching are omitted or deemphasized.  They hijack the image of Jesus by portraying Him as an open-minded, big-hearted, and never-offended-anyone moral teacher.  That is an entirely wrong idea about Jesus.  He taught remarkably tough truths about human beings and about sin....   Softening the message of the Gospel is an utterly wrong response to the objections that people raise." - UnChristian, Baker, 2007   

If we comfort rebels against God by falling silent about sins of greed, promiscuity, or selfishness we become complicit in their sin.  While love is our highest aim, love demands that we warn those who are headed for the cliff of destruction.  The truth, as offensive as it is, is the Way to real freedom.  Jesus told the Truth and ran headlong into hatred as a result.  Why do we think that we should be different?

That said, let us remember that we are sometimes unnecessarily offensive.   

Few things are more ugly that a person who is quick to point out the sins of others while failing to deal with his own!  The Pharisees, the villians in the Gospels, loved to name sins. Jesus told them the truth!  He said that they hid their own sins behind their indignation.  God made no distinction between the theft, adultery, or blasphemy of “ordinary” sinners and the Pharisee’s sins of pride, greed, and self-righteousness. Jesus did not approve of one or the other. He challenged Pharisees to get right from the inside out, then they would have a platform from which to speak to others.  "Don't just clean the outside of the cup," He said, "wash the inside, too."   How beautiful are the words of a humble Christian who speaks not from some imagined lofty place of perfection but as one who knows he is saved by grace.  He does not beat others down; he lifts them up! 

It is offensive to condemn without offering hope for redemption and transformation.   30 years ago, when the issue of abortion was at full boil in the Christian church, many Christians let fear drive the conversation and took the low road. Pro-lifers used incendiary words like ‘baby-killer’  or  ‘murderer.’  Grisly pictures of dead babies were hung to shock and offend.  Abortion is a terrible evil, the taking of an innocent and defenseless life, an act that is abhorrent in the eyes of God.  But it is a sin with context.  Few casually decide to end a pregnancy.  Women in crisis need hope, need love that gives them courage to face the future. So, while speaking truth, I also joined forces with other like-minded Christians to create a center where women could find practical care that would encourage them to choose life for their unborn child. We forbade our staff from using manipulative tactics based in condemnation of fear.  Instead, we made an offer of life, based squarely on the truth.  I am convinced that when we are bold to speak truth, we must complete the story by offering the hope of redemption through Christ Jesus.

The Bible says,   "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’" From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:14-17, NIV)   Did you notice a phrase that repeats twice?   It is this one:  "Grace and Truth."   Moses brought the Law, which told the Truth.  With the Law came the knowledge of sin and guilt that separated people from God.   Jesus did not set aside the holy requirements of the Law, but He brought Grace that gives forgiveness and creates the possibility of transformation from the inside out.   Only by His grace are we restored to our Father, from Whom we receive the Spirit who empowers us to be holy.

America is a sinful nation.  Greed separates the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots.’  Injustice is rampant in our systems.  Racism is making new appearances.  Sexual license steals human dignity in our entertainment, on the Internet, and with a pleasure crazed culture.  We cannot, no matter how much we are hated, wave the flag of surrender and under the guise of ‘love’ fail in our mission to be prophets (God’s spokespersons).Called to be God’s voice, we cannot fall mute.  

HOWEVER, our message must be shaped by the grace that is greater than all our sin.    

Ponder this today.  This is the word from the Word.  Let’s start with humility, prayers of contrition.  "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14, NLT)  And continue with a message of saving grace:   "God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?"  (Romans 5:20-6:2, NLT)

______________

Miracle In My Heart

We are called

To be prophets to this nation,

To be the word of God,

In ev'ry situation,

Change my heart,

Change my heart today.

Who'll be the salt,

If the salt should lose its flavor?

Who'll be the salt,

If the salt should lose its flavor?

Change my heart,

Change my heart today.

Lord, loose the chains of oppression.

Lord, set the captives free.

Lord, fill my heart with compassion.

Shine Your light, shine Your light,

Shine Your light through me!

Work a miracle in my heart!

Work a miracle in my heart!

Work a miracle in my heart!

O Lord, today.

Lord, take all my lies

And all of my greed,

Let me be a sacrifice

For those who are in need.

Change my heart,

Change my heart today!

Lord, without Your power,

It's all just good intentions.

Lord, without Your grace

Who could find redemption?

Change my heart,

Change my heart today.

Brian Houston

© 1998, 1999 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Can I be a 'cussin' Christian?

Every Christian will desire to live in a way that pleases the Lord and honors Christ; in big and small ways. If pleasing God is not a first line priority then there is real question about the reality of knowing Christ as Savior, which is a much more serious thing than what rules to observe! Some of the moral and ethical choices that God desires of us are explicit. We must be loving, forgiving, kind people. Angry, vengeful, and hateful are just not part of the genuine Christian’s life.  A Christian knows that keeping his marriage vows is what God wants.  Generosity is written into the heart of those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. 

But, what about those other issues?  Can I be a 'cussin' Christian?

The spiritual community in which I grew up was a ‘holiness’ church.  Many take shots at the rules we were taught as though they were meaningless or unimportant.  They were an attempt to guide us to a whole and holy life, and for that, I am thankful today.  There was a misplaced emphasis on looking good over actually being good. Even as a child, I knew “Christians” who were very good Pharisees. They were concerned about “cleaning the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they were full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:25)  But, underlying the rules was a real desire to pursue God, to know Him, and to please Him.  Many of us, however, confused rules with relationship.  We would never allow someone to drink a glass of beer or smoke a cigarette or attend a theater or utter an expletive and call himself a real Christian! For many of us, keeping those rules (any many more) became more important to some than loving God Himself!

From the beginning of the Christian faith, Christians had disputes about ‘right and wrong.’  In the city of Corinth dietary issues were fought over. Some Christians said it was fine to buy and eat meat leftover from the idol temple sacrifices. Others insisted it was sinful!  The early Christians, like some still today, argued about the proper day of worship- should it be the 7^th day, the Sabbath; or should it be the 1^st day, celebrating Jesus’ resurrection?  Paul reminded them that their aim was to please God and to live lovingly.   Their fighting was missing the point, making secondary issues into a primary ones.  "You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is helpful. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t think only of your own good. Think of other Christians and what is best for them. Here’s what you should do. You may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace. Don’t ask whether or not it was offered to idols, and then your conscience won’t be bothered." (1 Corinthians 10:23-25, NLT)  Some took too many liberties and missed out on the best way. Others asked far too many questions and enslaved themselves.  “So,” he says, “focus on the Lord, not on your own preference!  "Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31, NLT)

I am glad that when I was an infant in Christ there were guidelines given to me about going to church faithfully, about living purely, about cleaning up my speech, about where to seek entertainment. Some may laugh at the lack of sophistication that allowed some of those rules, but they served me well as fences when I needed them!  We do those who are immature in faith a disservice by being too reluctant to tell them that there are some good choices and some very bad choices!  With maturity in Christ, the Spirit writes His desires into my heart. I still make many of the very same choices!  Holiness is not silly or superficial; it is what God wants.  But, how we define holiness as mature, Spirit-filled disciples goes much deeper than what we eat or drink, what we wear, or where we go.  We recognize that we belong to Him – body, soul, and spirit – and that loving Him more means loving the stuff of life less.  Saying “yes” to the Spirit becomes a delight that replaces the dutiful “no” of legalism.

As you grow in grace, may the beauty of true holiness shine ever more brightly in you.  Take time to meditate on this word from the Word – God’s wisdom.

"We ask you—urge is more like it—that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance. 
You know the guidelines we laid out for you from the Master Jesus. God wants you to live a pure life.

Keep yourselves from sexual promiscuity. Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body, not abusing it, as is so common among those who know nothing of God. Don’t run roughshod over the concerns of your brothers and sisters. Their concerns are God’s concerns, and he will take care of them. We’ve warned you about this before.

God hasn’t invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful—as beautiful on the inside as the outside. If you disregard this advice, you’re not offending your neighbors; you’re rejecting God, who is making you a gift of his Holy Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, The Message)

______

Father in Heaven, make it my heart’s desire to please You

In every choice, in every word, in every thought.

Keep me from the sin of superficiality, where I would be content

To merely look good on the outside.  Draw my heart to love You and others profoundly!

Protect me from the temptation to write rules for myself and others

In a fruitless attempt to restrain the sinful nature.

Instead, help me to choose love – always.

Give me the courage to answer temptation with an uncompromising “no!”

And, simultaneously, to shout an enthusiastic “yes!” to the Holy Spirit.

Lord Jesus Christ, be glorified in me today and always until that glorious Day

When I find holy perfection in Your eternal Presence.

Amen

Hollow Religion? Spirit-filled Life?

No reasonable person would say, “I live right next door to the hospital therefore I will always enjoy good health.”  Or, “my son is an automobile technician so my car will never break down.”  Staying well requires lifestyle choices for health.  Keeping a car in good condition requires regular preventative maintenance.  If we know these things, why do we assume that keeping a Bible on the coffee table, going to church when it is convenient to do so, or writing “Christian” in the place for religion on that application, will produce a transforming faith that leads us to a rich life in the Spirit?

To know Christ, to enter into the true privileges of belonging to God, to be an effective representative of the Kingdom of Heaven while living here on earth, requires daily decisions to live for God; to obey Him, to exercise faith.  It is a serious error to confuse a few ‘spiritual goosebumps’ or sentimental tears shed in a church service with an authentic, robust Spirit-filled life.  The people of Israel took false comfort from the miracles that surrounded them.  As they journeyed from Egypt to Canaan, they were fed with daily manna and led by the cloudy pillar.  “God is with us,” they told each other. “Surely all things are just fine with Him.” But, their hearts remained unmoved and they lived faithlessly albeit near the Lord!

Paul uses their example to urge us to daily obedience. “Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraculously through the Sea. They went through the waters, in a baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation life. They all ate and drank identical food and drink, meals provided daily by God. They drank from the Rock, God’s fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were. And the Rock was Christ. But just experiencing God’s wonder and grace didn’t seem to mean much—most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased. The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did. And we must not turn our religion into a circus as they did.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-7, The Message)

When confronted by a hard choice in the will of God– to enter the Promise Land and possess it – they refused Him, fear overtaking faith. The did this despite all the evidence that God was their Provider, their Defender, their Advocate!  And, their faithlessness brought their demise. “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:10-13, NIV)

God invites us to walk with Him and that means there are choices to be made that will require real faith. Having a religion, having a reputation as a “Christian,” or a family heritage of being churched are insufficient. We must be God-focused, hopeful in Christ, led to the Way that ends in Life!  Paul’s inspired word is a challenge to change: “So, my very dear friends, when you see people reducing God to something they can use or control, get out of their company as fast as you can. I assume I’m addressing believers now who are mature. Draw your own conclusions: When we drink the cup of blessing, aren’t we taking into ourselves the blood, the very life, of Christ? And isn’t it the same with the loaf of bread we break and eat? Don’t we take into ourselves the body, the very life, of Christ?” …  “And you can’t have it both ways, banqueting with the Master one day and slumming with demons the next.” (1 Corinthians 10:14-16, 21, The Message)

An authentic Christian who is filled with the Spirit, who places faith exclusively in the Person and Work of Jesus is beautiful, powerful, and transformative.  Theirs is a daily walk of faith that endures, that loves, that grows deep and strong despite tests and temptations for they are saying “yes, Lord” and mean it.

Here is the word from the Word.  Embrace it and work out the implications of the salvation you received by faith.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV)
And, say to those who travel through life with you,  “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV)

____________

Here I Am To Worship

 Light of the world,

You stepped down into darkness;

Opened my eyes, let me see:

Beauty that made

This heart adore You,

Hope of a life spent with You!

So, here I am to worship,

Here I am to bow down,

Here I am to say that You’re my God!

And You’re altogether lovely,

Altogether worthy,

Altogether wonderful to me.

King of all days,

Oh so highly exalted;

Glorious in heaven above!

Humbly You came

To the earth You created,

All for love’s sake became poor.

So, here I am to worship,

Here I am to bow down,

Here I am to say that You’re my God!

And You’re altogether lovely,

Altogether worthy,

Altogether wonderful to me.

Tim Hughes

© 2000 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055